Ezejindu DN

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract of ginger on the liver of adult wistar rats. Twenty adult wistar rats weighing 190-215g were used for the study. They were divided into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A served as the control and were orally administered 0.2ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C & D were orally administered 0.3ml, 0.6ml and 0.9ml of aqueous extract of ginger respectively for twenty one days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sacrificed under the influence of chloroform vapour and dissected. The liver organ were harvested, weighed and trimmed down to a size of 3mm x 3mm and fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The final body weight result showed that groups C & D reduced significantly (P>0.05) when compared with the control while Group B final body weight increased significantly (P>0.05) relative to the control. The mean relative organ weight in groups C and D increased significantly (P>0.05) when compare with the control while group B had a similar weight with the control group A. Histological result showed that groups C and D tissues showed mild fibrosis around the central vein, congested sinusoids in a background of hepatocellular hypertrophy while group B showed normal cyto-architecture of the liver. From these findings, aqueous ginger extract administered in high doses may cause histopathological lesions to the liver.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Annona muricata ethanolic leaf extract on the testes of adult wistar rats. Twenty wistar rats weighing between 180 – 205g were used for the study. They were designated into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A animals served as the control and were orally administered 0.3ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C & D were orally administered 0.2 ml, 0.4ml and 0.6ml of Annona muricata ethanolic leaf extract respectively for twenty eight days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were weighed, sacrificed under the influence of chloroform vapour and dissected. Testes tissue were removed, weighed and fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The final body weight of groups C and D decreased significantly (P

This study is aimed at investigating the effects of Aframomum melegueta aqueous extract on liver enzymes of adult wistar rats. Twenty healthy wistar rats weighing between 180-215kg were used. They were divided into four groups (A, B, C & D) of five animals each. Group A served as the control and received 0.35ml of distilled water; the experimental groups B, C & D were orally administered with 0.55ml, 0.65ml and 0.75ml of aqueous extract of Aframomum melegueta respectively for twenty eight days. The control A and experimental groups were weighed, anaesthetized under chloroform vapour and dissected. Liver tissues were removed and weighed. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture using sterile syringes and needles. Blood for serum preparation was collected into sterile plain tubes without anticoagulant. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined using randox kit method. The final body weight of the experimental groups increased significantly (P˂0.001) with the control. The relative liver weight of the experimental groups (B, C & D) statistically increased (P˂0.001) relative to the control. The activity levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in the experimental groups (B, C & D) are similar with the control (A). This study therefore suggest that consumption of Aframomum melegueta aqueous extract at low and high doses did not cause biochemical alteration in the liver enzymes.